An Australian FIFO worker who was fighting for life in Thailand has received the six pints of a rare blood type he needed to survive from selfless Aussie expats.

James Lothian, 41, from Perth, suffered catastrophic injuries in a car crash in Chonburi, Thailand, in March while on a break from work to visit his wife and five-year-old son.

Mr Lothian spent five months in intensive care at the Chonburi Hospital, requiring the use of a ventilator, and underwent emergency surgery on his stomach and liver.

The father was released from hospital and had his dressings changed daily but the wounds to his liver and small intestines became infected.

Mr Lothian needed surgery to remove the infected sections of his bowel, but it was unsuccessful and he was diagnosed with septicemia – a blood infection – in August.

Doctors weren’t able to perform surgery to remove the infected tissue until they could source enough O-negative blood. 

His family put a desperate call out for Australian expats who were travelling or living in Thailand who had O-negative blood to donate it if they could.

In Australia, just 9 per cent of people have O-negative blood, but in Thailand it is far rarer, at just 0.3 per cent of the population. 

James Lothian, 41, from Perth , suffered catastrophic injuries in a car crash in Chonburi, Thailand, in March while on a break from work to visit his wife and five-year-old son

The FIFO worker has been in hospital since March and may require further surgery 

Mr Lothian’s sister revealed her brother was able to receive six pints’ worth of blood from expat travellers and underwent surgery on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old, however, still has a long road ahead of him, and has been unable to eat or drink since May, lost 40kg and is being fed via a tube.

His family have started a GoFundMe to help cover Mr Lothian’s extensive medical bills.

It’s possible he may need to be medevaced home to Australia or receive further surgery.

‘Due to James being a visitor in Thailand medical bills are piling up and we are working hard to get him home safer to get good quality medical care,’ his sister Stacey wrote.

Mr Lothian’s brother and father were among those who donated blood. 

Mr Lothian had been visiting his wife and five-year-old son in Thailand when he was involved in the car crash

Mr Lothian has lost 40 kilograms and is being fed via a tube